Beginning

[thecastle]

One moment you were elsewhere, surely speaking to your friends, fighting in a battle of your life, dying, or even in a state of non-existence in its entirety. It doesn't matter now, since when you open your eyes it’s become clear that not only is everything around you foreign and unfamiliar, so is everyone. And there seems to be a fair lot of you, at that.

It's easy to discern a few things upon a cursory glance, once you pick yourself up from the field of grass you're resting on. The place you've awoken in seems to be fairly tranquil, for the first few moments at least, and the view of a newly budded sakura tree is among the first that will greet you. In the distance, is a towering castle that manages to look all at once both imposing and welcoming at the same time. There's also an odd pendant around your neck, which you'll find won't come off despite your best attempts. In your pocket you'll find a room key, engraved with a number.

The weather is currently cool, with the sun brightly shining in the sky, though there are a few too many clouds to make it a completely clear day. While most of them appear rather normal, every so often you might spot one that looks just a bit off— like a storm cloud that's completely lost it's way. Lucky for you, it doesn't seem like you're going to have to worry about any inclement weather anytime soon, as they'll vanish from your vision as quickly as they came.

A large stone wall surrounds the entirety of the castle, though it's anyone guess why that is— maybe it's for your safety, maybe it's to keep you trapped, or maybe it's for another reason entirely. The only breach in the wall is a single gate that looks like it certainly led to the outside at one point, but that too has been cordoned off by solid stone.

Fortunately, there's nothing to stop you from entering the castle itself, where you'll find it's pretty grand all things considered. The lighting inside is provided not by electricity, but by magical flame that adjusts to the time of day or night. Actually, if you're looking for anything electronic anywhere, or even a simple power outlet, you'll be sorely out of luck.

For now, it might be best to explore and make some sense of where you are and why you're here— maybe one of your fellow travelers might know something? There are some plaques in the Great Hall that might catch your interest given their focus, in addition to one ridiculously large golden one that seems to bear rules.

Welcome, fellow warriors, to your very long stay.

Comments

[maddogs]

[ it only clashes if you think its embarrassing. majima thinks its great

anyway majima punches his shoulder. ]

Come on, we're wastin' daylight.

[buddyoldpal]

[ It clashes cause you're being so proper, Majima. But then this is the Majima Nishitani knows, so it's sweet. He'll just not leave your side ever. The shoulder punch just makes him smile. ]

After you, Majima～❤

[ I'm officially embarrassed for Nishitani. ]

[maddogs]

[ ah............ did nishitani just make a heart an honorific hes

thats impressive

majima heads them off in the direction of the pond to start ]

Ya ever been to any castles before?

[buddyoldpal]

[ He loves you, Majima......... ]

Sure. Can't live in Osaka without bein' ta Osaka Castle at least once.

[ Even skipping school, Nishitani must have gone. Gotta learn about your roots and all that. ]

[maddogs]

Was it anythin' like this?

[ as nishitani may remember majima had other things....other... issues... while in osaka. ]

[buddyoldpal]

[ Yeah, true. Majima was stuck in Sotenbori anyway! ]

The courtyard, sure. Ya'd get shit like this. [ He glances up at the castle proper though. ] This thing's western-lookin' though. Maybe they're tryin' ta mix it up a bit.

[maddogs]

[ honestly he really hadnt even looked at the castle yet. the grounds were nice. and by now theyve made it to the pond so hes gonna check that out, crouching down next to it to get a look at whats inside. ]

It's all welcomin'. I'm not sayin' I'm against it [ purgatory, afterall, was a lot like this - traditional, beautiful, and then cage matches whatever ] but usually when ya kidnap people for shit ya don't just set 'em up like this.

[buddyoldpal]

Yeah, that's fer sure.

[ Nicest hell he's ever seen, if this turns out to be the case. ]

Must be somethin' they want from us, if things're this nice.

[maddogs]

[ majima sticks a gloved hand in the water (why) and the koi all swim away from him, because, obviously. ]

"Offerin's accepted...."

[ he checks his pocket for

for

.... ]

Ah, fuck, they jacked all my stuff. Could've thrown a five yen coin in.

[buddyoldpal]

Tch. Damn shame.

[ Nishitani checked his pockets earlier and came up empty too. But he just thought being dead had to do with that. ]

Guess it ain't just me.

[ Do they even have anything to throw in...? Well, it doesn't really work if it's not five yen, does it? ]

[maddogs]

[ majima rocks back on his heels, considering ]

Couldn't care less about the money. I want my knife back, though.

[buddyoldpal]

I hear ya, pal.

[ Nishitani grabs his own lapels, lamenting the loss of his ever-present Kijin Clan pin. ]

Even took my phone an' my fuckin' pin! Might as well've taken the shirt off my back.

[maddogs]

[ he looks down at his lapel too ]

Mine too.

[ guess who is back in the yakuza?? ]

[buddyoldpal]

[ Oh, hey!! Nishitani grins at that! ]

Ohhhh, yeah? What family ya in, huh? Ya take over for that fucker Shimano-san or what?

[maddogs]

Yeah.

[ yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah ]

[buddyoldpal]

Chairman of the Shimano Family, huh? Shit, look at ya. All grown up an' everythin'.

[ He grins. That tone surely means nothing bad!! ]

Knew ya'd make a fuckin' great yakuza, Majima.

[maddogs]

[ majima laughs as he stands. it's dark and bitter and nothing like the normal way he laughs now, like he doesn't have a care in the world.

(who are you even fooling tho) ]

Shimano's dead, it ain't his family anymore. It's the Majima family now.

[ signed with a fuck you to the guy who tortured him i guess ]

[buddyoldpal]

[ Yikes, that's a dark sound, buddy. ]

Well, damn. Serves that fucker right.

[ Obviously, Nishitani couldn't give two fucks about Shimano. ]

Ya started yer own family? That's pretty fuckin' sweet! Should I be callin' ya Patriarch Majima now?

[maddogs]

[ if nishitani knew the literal hell shimano had put him through this would probably make a lot more sense to him. but majima isn't about to explain, so. ]

Ya can if ya want. I'm guessin' it ain't gonna mean a damn thing here, though.

[ he seems to be satisfied with their visit to the pond for now so it's off to the laundry hut ]

[buddyoldpal]

Nah, I'll stick ta Majima, makes it sound like we're pals.

[ oh, fun. laundry! Actually, this reminds Nishitani of his younger days... he wasn't always head of the Kijin Clan, after all. ]

Guessin' it's been a while since I bit the big one, eh?

[maddogs]

[ majima actually smiles at nishitani's suggestion but it fades immediately when he mentions his death. ]

It's been twenty-two years.

[buddyoldpal]

Damn...

[ He's no pro at math, but if Majima was in his twenties back then... ]

Shit, yer livin' the life, makin' it this long, pal! I'm proud of ya!

[ Late 40s is nothing to shake a stick at. Plenty of yakuza die much, much younger. ]

[maddogs]

[ it does warm majima to hear it. he owed so much to nishitani, his pride really is meaningful. he smiles softly, almost trying to hide it. ]

Guess I'm just a stubborn asshole they can't get rid of.

[buddyoldpal]

Damn right!

[ Nishitani reaches over in an attempt to throw his arm over Majima's shoulder. ]

Makes me real happy ta hear that, y'know? I knew ya were destined for big things, Majima.

[maddogs]

[ majima doesn't shrug him off - if anything, he just leans into it once nishitani's arm is around him. the physical affection is easy. it's the words that are hard to swallow. ]

Ah, Nishitani...[ what does he even say ] Thank you.